FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Contact: In DC - Brandon MacGillis (202) 225-4431
In CO - Chris Arend (303) 844-4988

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) today voted for H.R. 365, the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2007, a bill to help communities across Colorado clean up methamphetamine (meth) labs. 

“This important legislation will give law enforcement officials in Colorado and around the nation the tools they need to locate and shut down meth labs,” said Rep. DeGette.   “This bill will also provide for essential research to determine the best way to clean up old labs and eliminate the chemicals that can harm our environment and lead to significant health problems.”

H.R. 365 would require the Environmental Protection Agency to develop health-based guidelines to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up former meth labs.  It would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop technologies to detect methamphetamine labs, emphasizing field test kits for law enforcement.  Finally, the bill would require the National Academy of Sciences to study the long-term health impacts of methamphetamine lab sites exposure on first-responders and children.

“Meth is a growing problem in Colorado and across the country.  This dangerous drug is often produced in residential neighborhoods in labs that use highly volatile chemicals.  When the lab moves on it leaves behind toxic waste that threatens the health of whoever should occupy that space next,” said Rep. DeGette.  “This bill will ensure every community has the knowledge and tools they need to effectively clean old meth labs.”

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